MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Senators today voted for a plan that would let the state borrow as much as $650 million to repair bridges and roads, and create a five-person council not controlled by Gov. Robert Bentley that would decide which projects got built.

The state transportation department now sets construction priorities, and Bentley appointed its director, John Cooper.

But the Senate-passed plan, Senate Bill 339, would create a five-person council that would approve distribution of the bond money allowed by the plan.

The governor would appoint only one of the five members, the state transportation director.

The other four members would be appointed by Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey, Agriculture Commissioner John McMillan, Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, the top-ranking state senator, and Speaker Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, leader of the House of Representatives.

Under the bill, the Alabama Highway Authority could borrow as much as $650 million by selling bonds. The money would be repaid using a 13-cents-per-gallon tax on diesel fuel, which raises about $87 million a year. It would cost about $47 million a year to repay $650 million over 20 years, the Legislative Fiscal Office estimated.

The Senate voted 27-0 for the bill, which now goes to the House for review.